Washing machine detergent dispenser



July 12, 1955 J. BOCHAN 2,712,746

WASHING MACHINE DETERGENT DISPENSER Filed Oct. 22, 1952 Inventor": John Bochan,

M'a W r-lis Attorneg.

My invention relates to automatic washing machines, such as clothes washers, and more particularly to an automatic dispenser for discharging into such Washing machines a water solution of the washing compound, detergent, soap or germicidal agent.

in the operational cycle of an automatic washing machine, it is frequently desirable to employ a preliminary clear water soak or rinse operation prior to the commencement of the washing operation for which a detergent or suitable cleansing compound is employed. By way of example, a cycle of operation for an automatic clothes washer may include a preliminary soak period without detergent from 15 to 30 minutes; a Water extraction operation; a wash operation during which time the clothes are subjected to agitation in a hot or warm soapy water solution; extraction of the soapy water; and finally, suitable rinse operations ending in a final water extraction operation. Preferably this entire cycle of operations is performed automatically after once placing the machine in operation with a load of clothes. This necessitates some means for supplying soap or detergent at the appropriate stage of the cycle.

When injecting the soap or detergent into the washing machine, it is also desirable that it be mixed with the incoming water prior to contact with the clothes. if a dry washin compound is poured directly into the machine on to wet clothes, it is found that there is a tendency for the compound to adhere to the clothes and not be completely dissolved in the wash water.

Correspondingly, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved dispenser for detergent, soap, or other suitable cleansing agent, which will automatically discharge the contents of the dispenser into the washing tub or basket.

A further object of my invention is to provide an automatic detergent dispenser which will the cleansin compound with incoming water for discharge into the washing basket. it is also an object of this invention to permit automatic filling of the washing machine when soap or detergent is not desired.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an automatic detergent dispenser which is reliable in operation, simple and economical in construction, and which is adapted for use with controls of a type generally used for automatic washer Briefly stated, I employ a detergent dispenser cup into which a suitable quantity of cleansing agent may be placed for subsequent discharge into the washing machine basket. An automatically controlled water inlet is provided with a flexible end which may be positioned to discharge directly into the tub or, when the detergent is desired, may be positioned to discharge through the dispenser into the tub, thereby providing a mixture of detergent and water. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of my invention 1 control the position of the flexible water inlet with a bi'metallic element and associated heater. The heater in turn may be automatically controlled, for example by a timer, which connects the heater to an electric power source when detergent is desired, thereby causing deflection of the bi-metallic element and a corresponding movement of the discharge end of the water inlet to wash the detergent from the dispenser into the clothes basket.

The features of my invention which I believe to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

1 is a partial plan view of an automatic clothes washer embodying my invention, with portions thereof broken away to illustrate a preferred embodiment of inproved detergent dispenser and its operating mechanism;

2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Fi l; and

Fig. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram, such as invention.

Referring now to the drawing, l have shown my invention as applied to an automatic clothes washer, although obviously this invention may be applied to other types of clothes washers or to other washing machines such as dishwashers.

The washing machine to which the illustrated embodiment is directed comprises an outer enclosing casing 1 which may be reinforced by suitable strengthening ribs 2.. As shown, this outer casing is of substantially rectangular configuration. It will be understood that the casing includes side walls 3 and a top cover 4 to provide an enclosed space for the washing basket and associated operating mechanism. Cover 4 includes an access opening adapted to be closed by a removable lid 5.

Within casing .1 I mount a stationary tub or water receptacle 6 which, as herein shown, is generally cylindrical. This water receptacle is secured in a fixed position within the casing by any suitable means (not shown). Positioned centrally within tub 6 is a rotatable clothes basket 7 having upstanding sidewalls and inwardly rolled annular flange 8 at the upper edge thereof. A plurality of water overflow and discharge ports 8a are provided adjacent the upper edge of basket 7. Also rotatably mounted with respect to tub 6 and centrally positioned within basket 7 is an agitator 3 having a plurality of radially extending ribs 10. It is to be understood that any suitable drive mechanism may be employed for imparting motion to the agitator for the washing operation; and that similarly the drive mechanism may provide rapid rotary motion of basket 7 to centrifugally extract water and washing solution from the clothes for discharge through ports 8a into the stationary tub from whence it may be pumped to an appropriate drain line. Since the drive and pump mechanisms form no part of the present invention, they have not been illustrated, it being understood that any of the conventional mechanisms for this purpose may be employed.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, cover 4 includes a downwardly directed portion 7.1 to define the access opening into the machine. A laterally directed flange 12 extending from the portion 11 may be employed to mount a soap detergent cup 13. As shown, this cup includes an open top 14 through which the cleansing compound can be introduced when lid 5 is open. The cup is supported in overlying relation with respect to wash basket 7 from lateral flange 12 of cover 4 by representation of an electrical may be used in practice of this have shown this water inlet opening in a sidewall of the cup, it will be obvious that the water inlet could be located in other positions.

For fully automatic operation I employ a Water inlet pipe 13 having a water control valve 19 in line therewith. This valve may be of any suitable type,

although preferably it is electrically controlled between on and oil positions. Water line 18, including a discharge end 26, is secured within casing l. in any suitable manner (not shown).

As illustrated more clearly in Fig. 2, the stationary tub 6 extends upwardly into proximity with cover 4. and an appropriate sealing gasket 21 encircles its upper edge for a water tight seal with cover 4. This prevents water from being splashed from basket 7 or tub 6 to the exterior of the tub. Within an upper wall portion 22 of the tub i provide an opening 23 for the water inlet. Within this opening I secure a water inlet flexible tube or duct 24 by means of an annular groove 25 in one end thereof. Preferably this water inlet tube 24 is molded from rubber or other flexible plastic compound. The opposite or free end of water inlet tube 24 is movable between the position shown in full lines and a lower dotted line position. As clearly shown by Fig. 2, in the upper full line position, tube 23 discharges directly into the inlet opening 17 in dispenser cup 13. In the dotted line position, tube 24 discharges directly into the wash basket 7. It may also be noted that the discharge end 20 of the water supply pipe is positioned in alignment with the fixed end of flexible tube 24, although spaced therefrom to provide an air gap and thus prevent liquid from being sucked from the machine back into the water main in case of water supply failure. Thus, whenever valve 19 is energized to its open position, water under pressure will flow through pipe 18 and discharge into flexible tube 24 and thence ultimately into basket 7. While I have shown flexible tube 24 secured within sidewall 22 of the stationary tub, it will be obvious that the tube could be formed for securement directly to end 20 of the water inlet pipe, although such a construction would not pro 5;

vide a so-called vacuum brea or air gap to prevent contamination of the water main under abnormal conditions.

To move flexible tube 24 between its two positions I prefer to employ an electrically operated means. In

the illustrated embodiment, this means comprises a bimetallic strip 26 made up, for example, from two strips of different metals having different co-efticients of expansion. Such elements are, of course, well-known in the art. Bi-metallic element 26 is mounted in any suitable manner, such as by an angle bracket 27 and rivets 27a. Associated with the bi-metallic element, and

' preferably wrapped around this element, is an electric heater 28 having electrical supply lines 29 and 39 connected thereto as clearly illustrated in Fig. l. The is.

free end of the bi-metallic element is secured to flexible tube 24 adjacent its movable end by means such as spacer 31 and rivet 32. Thus when heater 23 is connected to a suitable electric power source, bi-metallic element 26 changes its shape, tending to curl in an upward direction to raise the free end of tube 24 for discharge of water through opening 17 in the detergent cup. When heater 28 is disconnected from the power source and cools, the bi-metallic element again returns F to its normal position thereby lowering the discharge end of the flexible tube into a position discharging water d rectly into the wash basket.

In Fig. 3 I have shown schematically a control sysof a type which may be used with this invention. As shown, power lines 33 and 34 supply electrical powor to a suitable master control assembly 35 through a double pole switch 35. It will be understood that control 35 regulates and thnes operation of a motor 37 in any suitable manner to achieve the desired motions for agitator 9 and basket 7. In accordance with this invention, i employ, additionally, a pair of contactors 33 and 39, it being understoodthat these contactors are under control of a suitable timing or control mechanism included within control assembly 35. With this arrangement it may be seen that when contactor 38 is moved from its normally open position to a closed position with its associated contacts, power is supplied to heater .23 from line 33, through switch 36, heater 28, cont-actor 33, to the other side of the line 34. l lence with contactor 33 closed, the bi-metallic element raises the flexible tube for water discharge through the dispenser cup into the wash basket. As represented in Fig. 3, valve 19 is actuated by a solenoid 49 under the control of contactor 39. When contactor 39 moves to its closed position, electrical power flows through the solenoid to open valve 19 and thereby discharge water into the flexible tube or duct 24.'

in operation, by way of example, it may be assumed that the control has been set for a preliminary soak cycle for laundry placed within basket '7. Closure of contactor 39 while contactor 38 remains open will cause filling of basket 7 with plain water. At the beginning of the operation when laundry is placed in the basket, the operator may pour a suitable quantity of detergent, such as indicated by 41, into the dispenser cup. Since such detergents are normally in powdered torm, substantially all of the compound will remain in the cup, only a negligible amount falling through discharge chute it: in to the basket. At the conclusion of the soak cycle, at which time water is expelled from basket 7 and extracted from the laundry therein, contactor 38 will be closed by the control to energize bi-metallic heater 28. After a short period of time under the infiuence of the heater, the biretallic element will have raised the free end of the flexible water tube or duct into alignment with inlet opening 17 in the detergent dispenser. At this moment, the control will close contactor 38 to admit water through pipe 18. Hence the water rushing through duct 24 will ,flow into the dis penser cup, mixing with the washing compound included therein, and discharge the resultant solution through discharge chute 16 into the basket. Since the water will continue to flow in this path throughout the filling period for the wash portion of the cycle, it may be seen that substantially all of the detergent will be washed from cup 33 into the basket. During the remainder of the cycle, including appropriate rinses and centrifugal extraction, contactor 38 will remain open so that subsequent water filling operations will discharge directly into the basket without flowing through the detergent dispenser.

While I have shown and described my invention as embodied in an automatic clothes washer, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the teaching hereof is likewise applicable to other types of washing.

compounds onto the clothes at some stage of the complete cycle of operation.

While the present invention has been described by reference to a particular embodiment thereof it will be understood that numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without actually departing from the invention. I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such equivalent variations as come within the true spirit and scope of the foregoing disclosure.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a washing machine of the type including a control to automatically regulate operational cycles, a washing compound dispenser comprising, a water inlet having a fixed discharge nozzle thereon, a flexible water duct mounted on the machine with one end thereof fixed in water receiving communication with said discharge nozzle with its opposite end movable between two positions, a washing compound cup having a sidewall discharge opening into the washing machine, an opposite side wall liquid inlet opening and a top detergent loading opening, said movable duct end in its first position discharging directly into the Washing machine and in its second position discharging into the liquid inlet opening of said cup thereby carrying the compound into the machine, and means rendered effective by the control to automatically move said duct end selectively to one of said two positions.

2. In combination, a clothes washing machine having a washing basket, a water inlet conduit terminating in a fixed nozzle, means automatically controlling flow of Water through said inlet conduit, an open top detergent cup having a water inlet in a side wall thereof and a discharge opening and spout extending downwardly from an opposite side wall toward said basket.

flexible duct having a fixed end in proximity to and adapted to receive water from said water inlet nozzle across an air gap, a movable end on said flexible duct for discharge selectively into said detergent cup inlet and directly into said basket, said movable end being movable between a basket discharge position and a dispenser discharge position, and control means to position said movable duct end, said last-mentioned means comprising a control including a contactor movable into closed position, and electrically operated means rendered effective by closure of said contactor to move said duct end from said basket discharge position to said dispenser discharge position.

3. In combination, a clothes washing machine having a washing basket, a fixed water inlet conduit having a discharge nozzle, means automatically controlling flow of water through said inlet conduit. an open top detergent cup having a water inlet opening and a discharge spout extending therefrom into said Washing basket, a flexible duct having a fixed end positioned in proximity to said nozzle to receive water from said water inlet conduit and a movable end for discharge selectively into said detergent cup inlet and directly into said basket, and control means to position said movable end, said means comprising a bi-metallic strip having its movable end secured to said flexible duct movable end, a heater associated with said strip, and a control for energizing said heater.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

